The red eyed man looked around presumptuously.
"Where is she?" Shabrinigdo growled to himself as he looked at the golden sea to his right.
"Shabrinigdo, what a unpleasant surprise." The Lord of Nightmares murmured as she descended the shining ivory stairs.
"L-sama." Shabrinigdo bowed mockingly.
"Why are you here?" L-sama asked coldly.
"I want to grace the mortal plane with my presence once again." L-sama cocked a perfectly arched golden eyebrow.
"And why would I allow that, I don't want the world destroyed. You already tried that, remember?"
"Ah, but I have a conquest of another kind in mind Lord of Nightmares." Shabrinigdo said smiling slightly. "Something that would appeal to you and your wish for chaos." L-sama's face showed slight interest. It was not Shabrinigdo's way to beat around the bush.
"And what did you have in mind?"
Zelgadis snarled as he pushed another man-sized spider-web out of his way.
Will this cursed tunnel ever end?! he shouted silently as his icy gaze fell upon the tiny woman walking next to him. In the dim oppressive light, Lina's bright; flame colored hair seemed to darken to the color of blood. No matter what Lighting spell they cast, the very air seemed to darken. Unknowingly, Lina shivered as her arms broke out in gooseflesh.
"Are you sure you can trust this lead Zel?" Lina asked.
"Yes." Zelgadis answered curtly. Inside he was seething, couldn't she hurry up? He was in a hurry, and all he wanted was to get out of this blasted cave. He hated the dark, was terrified of it actually, and this did nothing for his already stretched psyche.
Perhaps this will be the one. Zel thought silently as he pushed another obstacle out of his way. Lina tripped on something.
"Can't you hurry up?" Zel coldly asked the question that had been plaguing him for the last half-hour. Lina frowned, no one talked to her like that, not even Zelgadis.
"Listen you Stone Jerk, I was the only one who was willing to come with you one this little "trip" and quiet frankly I have had it up to here," Lina held her hand up to her chin, "with your attitude and obsession." Zelgadis turned around and looked at Lina with eyes that could freeze a glacier.
"And I am tired of your selfish pursuit of treasure and magick. You didn't come with me because you wanted to help. You came because you want to get our hands on the treasure just as much as I do. But I want it for a totally different reason then simple greed." Zelgadis had slowly stalked over to Lina, and the sorceress had back up until she felt the rough wall dig into her back. But Zelgadis kept coming until his face was mere inches from her own. "But make no mistake, you get in my way, or try to take my cure and I will take you out." Lina shivered when she looked up into Zelgadis' suddenly blazing eyes. The Chimera smirked slightly and turned around and walked away.
"That's it Zelly boy." A dark voice whispered in Zelgadis' mind. "Hurt yourself, hurt the world. But most of all, hurt her." Zelgadis shivered.
No, I don't want to hurt Lina, not her. Zelgadis cried mentally as he felt the icy bonds slip around him once again.
"Must I take control again?" Zelgadis shuddered as he felt his control over his own body slip away. "Must I Little Chimera?"
"No, please, not again." Zel begged softly as he fell against the wall roughly. "Don't do it, stop it please." Zel sighed as he felt the bonds on him slip away.
"Now, are you going to listen and obey, or are you going to rebel and pay the price?" Zelgadis squeezed his eyes shut to block the tears of shame that threatened to overwhelm him. "Do you understand my Little Chimera?" Zel nodded his head. "Why do you resist me, its not like you haven't thought about it countless times before." The dark velvet voice whispered seductively into Zelgadis' ear.
"Because it's not right, and....and..." Zelgadis tried to force the words out.
"Have you deluded yourself into believing you love her?" The velvet voice asked; a dagger strait to Zelgadis' heart. "You? As if a beautiful fey creature as her, could ever love a stone freak such as yourself?" The velvet voice was not cold and unbending. "Dream on Chimera, because that is the only place you will hold your precious Lina, the only place without me."
"You?" Zel asked, his mind seemed wooly, full of cotton.
"I could grant you your heart's desire, her and I ask nothing in return." Zelgadis blinked, he couldn't think, could barely see through the clouds that blurred his vision.
"Lina? You could make her love me." Anger flashed through the cotton. "You lie, nobody can force Lina to do something she doesn't want to." Zelgadis snarled and his mind began to clear.
"No one defies me!" The formerly soft voice thundered and Zelgadis cried out in pain as the bonds brutally snapped around him. "You will experience what happens to those who dare defy me Chimera, you will pay." Zelgadis clenched his hand into fists and tried to fight against the invisible bonds that were slowly creeping into his very mind. "Yes fight me, it makes your surrender all that more sweet." Zelgadis' face was a study of agony.
"Get out of my head..." Zelgadis ground out as he clutched his head as shafts of white hot pain shot through his head and didn't hear the soft footfall behind him.
"Zel?" Lina softly asked as stared at the Chimera. The Chimeric youth opened hollow and haunted sapphire hued eyes.
"Lina... run." Zelgadis whimpered as he stared at the tiny sorceress. Lina slowly walked over to Zel, her hands outstretched.
"Zelgadis, calm down." Lina murmured as she touched Zelgadis' arm, but the Chimera flinched away.
"Do it Little Chimera, show her you care." The soft voice chuckled darkly.
"No..." Zel shuddered. "Lina...get away from me...please." Lina's ruby red eyes were wide and full of apprehension.
"Zel, talk to me." Lina whispered as she walked over to him. The Chimera was trembling slightly as the petite sorceress stood in front of him.
"Do it." The voice hardened. "Do it now or I will hurt her." Zelgadis fought with all his might against the bonds that chained him and lifted his hand. "Do it." Zelgadis' hand was pulled back, about to hit Lina.
Stop! Zelgadis cried mentally and the invisible ropes that were bound to him loosened up and he regained control of his arm. Zelgadis looked at Lina, she was tense and her eyes were squeezed shut as if she was expecting him to hit her!
Lina watched curious as Zelgadis lifted his hand, it looked like he was going to hit her! Lina tensed up preparing for the blow, her crimson eyes clenched shut. Her eyes snapped open when she felt the barest of caresses against her left cheek. Lina stared up at Zel and saw that his eyes were devastated.
"Please, forgive me Lina." Zel whispered as his lips crushes down on hers. Lina Inverse was, to put it bluntly, shocked as Hell. She merely stood there frozen stiff, and then the realization slammed down on her and her gloved hands clenched up and she beat against Zel's chest. But sadly it was to no avail against the Chimera's stone skin.
What is he doing!? Lina's mind was chaotic as she tried to push Zelgadis away. No....Zel, why? Lina thought as she felt the Chimera's hands roughly clasp her shoulders. What....? Lina wonder as she felt Zelgadis push her, and she found her back to a wall for the second time in one day.
Zelgadis broke off the kiss and he stared into Lina's wide doe-like eyes. Zelgadis closed his eyes as the bile rose in the back of his throat.
"Let me do it Boy." The voice in his mind growled coldly as he wrest control from Zelgadis.
"No..." Zelgadis groaned as he looked away, and suddenly, his eyes flashed ruby red for a second. But then it returned to its regular sapphire blue. Lina trembled as she saw the cruel smirk on Zelgadis' face.
Zel?" The Chimera smiled darkly and Lina felt her stomach bottom out.
"Yes Lina-chan?" Zel whispered as he kissed Lina brutally with bruising force. Lina whimpered as Zel's hands tightened and his fingers dug into her shoulders through her shoulder pads. Zelgadis moved his hands up Lina's neck and tipped her head back forcefully. The red haired sorceress cried out in shock when Zelgadis bit her lower lip. Zelgadis took advantage of Lina's surprise and he swept his tongue into her mouth. Lina was startled, she had never expected Zelgadis, shy blushing Zelgadis. to be so aggressive. Lina blinked, it was almost as if Zel, wasn't... Zel. Before the young woman could think anymore. Zelgadis backed away slightly and stared at her through narrowed blue eyes, much like a panther would eye a bird. Raw and naked hungry burned in Zelgadis' eyes mixed with lust and a glacial coldness Lina had never seen in them before. Zelgadis smiled as he unfastened Lina's cloak and shoulder pads; causing them to clatter to the ground. Lina was trembling in shock, terror, anger and something else. Something she couldn't identify.
"So you liked that my little Lina-chan?" Zelgadis asked, his voice like velvet. Lina opened her eyes when she felt warm fingers at her throat. Zel cocked his head to the side and smiled innocently as he deftly unfastened Lina's collar. After that, is was a simple matter for him to unfasten her shirt; baring her small pert breasts to the chilly air.
Bastard! Zelgadis screamed mentally as he fought the evil being that had taken control of his body, yet had cruelly left him aware of everything he said or did.
"Shut up and let me show you how it's done." The voice in his mind, that was now his, master...
"No! I won't let you hurt Lina!" Zelgadis doubled his efforts.
"Who said I was going to hurt her?" the voice chuckled as it Zelgadis lowered his head to kiss Lina.
What am I doing? Lina wondered as she allowed Zelgadis to kiss her. She gasped as Zel's gloved hands cupped her breasts. His skin is so soft for stone. Lina's errant mind processed that information and she shivered. And so cold, like marble. Zel was never so cold before, but his skin is icy. Lina shivered again as a bright blush covered her face creeping all the way to the roots of her flaming orange-red hair. "No!" Lina cried as she pushed Zelgadis away form her and crossed her arms over he chest. "Get away from me." Lina hissed. Zelgadis looked at her narrowly.
"And if I don't?" he asked innocently as he lunged forward and roughly grabbed Lina's upper arms and pulled her to him. "No, I am not letting you go Lina." he whispered as he embraced her almost softly. "I have waited long enough." Zelgadis chuckled as his private joke as he forced Lina's face and stared at her.
Inside his prison, Zelgadis managed to regain some of his control. Lina looked up and was surprised to see Zel's eyes soften, the coldness fleeing and a terrible sorrow filled his beautiful eyes. "Lina run..." Zelgadis backed away and squeezed his eyes shut.
"How dare you! No one defies Shabrinigdo!" The Ruby Eye daemon snatched control back form Zelgadis. Lina looked as Zel's face hardened and the coldness, filled his eyes as well as anger.
"Enough of these games." Zelgadis' voice had sifted slightly and he stalked over to Lina and started down at her. "I want you Lina." Zelgadis whispered as he leaned forward and softly kissed Lina's shoulder.
"Zel?" Lina murmured but she didn't push him away again.
"Lina... I love you." Shabrinigdo laughed as he used those words that meant nothing to him, but meant everything to these stupid humans.
"Zelgadis?" Lina whispered numbly.
"Lina-chan, make love with me." Shabrinigdo smirked mentally as he felt the Chimera's devastation.
"No, it wasn't supposed to be like this." The Chimera cried as he huddled in the corner of his mind quivering and tears running down his face. "Why...why are you doing this? Why Shabrinigdo, you hate us."
"Precisely Stone Boy. I hate all of you, but I want Lina. And what better way to destroy my enemies? If poor Lina is attacked by "Zelgadis" one of her best friends." Shabrinigdo smirked. "But sadly the little sorceress isn't putting up much of a fight. To think that you have longed for her for years, all those years wasted, poor Zelgadis, how will the others ever understand?"
"I hate you, you bastard."
"Yes your hatred is delicious." Shabrinigdo sneered.
"Lina-chan, please." Lina blinked.
"Zel?" Zelgadis' eyes were warm and vulnerable.
"You humans are so easy to manipulate. I simply say "I love you" and she's putty in my hands."
"You don't even know what love is about. You defile that word when you utter it."
"I know, isn't it grand?" Zelgadis gently kissed Lina.
"Lina, please your answer?" Lina's mind was clouded and fuzzy. She couldn't make a clear thought.
"He...love me? He loves me." Lina kept thinking. "Why am I objecting...I have loved him for years. But Zel is acting so strange, cold at times. Lina Inverse get a hold of yourself!" Lina looked up and swallowed loudly.
"Alright." Shabrinigdo smirked and Zelgadis felt his heart shatter.
"See what I mean Chimera?" Shabrinigdo murmured as he kissed Lina deeply.
"Lina..." Zelgadis whispered completely defeated.
Afterwards Lina lay in Zelgadis arms as he gently caressed her hair.
"Thank you Zelgadis." Lina whispered softly as she buried her head in Zel's shoulder. "Thank you for being so gentle, it was...amazing." Lina kissed Zel passionately. "But I'm, rally tried now, I am going to take a nap okay?" Zel lightly kissed the top of Lina's head.
"Go to sleep Lina-chan I will guard your sleep." Lina smiled sleepily and closed her eyes, and was soon asleep. Shabrinigdo yawned, he had gotten what he had wanted, and in nine months, L-sama would get what she wanted. The Ruby Eyed lord phazed to Lina's room in the Inn where she and the rest where sleeping and placed her in her bed. Then he dispersed the room he had created and clothed Zelgadis once again.
"My work here is done Chimera, you may have your body back." Zelgadis whimpered as he regained control of his body and slid tonelessly to the floor of Lina's room.
"What have I done, how...how could I do that?" Zel whispered. "And it wasn't even me, it was him." Zelgadis silently made his decision and stoop up. It was very late and the others would be asleep by now. Zelgadis stared down at his sleeping love and bent down and kissed her. In her sleep, Lina kissed him back and slowly came awake.
"Zel?" Lina whispered as she stared up into the Chimera's tear-filled, devastated eyes.
"I love you Lina Inverse. Always remember that."
"I love you too, Zel what is wrong?" Lina asked confused.
"Sleep." Zel whispered as he kissed Lina one last time. Then he stood up and walked out the door. He had to get it over with before he lost his nerve. What he had done was unforgivable, and he could never forgive himself. Zelgadis walked to Gourry's room and unlocked the door. The blond swordsman looked up as Zel opened the door.
"Zelgadis where is Lina? You had no right to keep her out so late."
"Shut up, she's a big girl now." Zelgadis looked around and saw what he was looking for, the Hikari no Ken. Gourry's eye narrowed and he stood up. "Look Gourry, Lina is safely asleep in her room safe from monsters."
"Because I will soon be gone." Zel thought bitterly. "I need to borrow your sword." Zel grabbed the Hikari no Ken, and the blond swordsman opened his mouth to protest. Zelgadis looked at Gourry. "Watch out for Lina for me please." Zelgadis touched Gourry's forehead. "Sleep." He whispered and he caught the swordsman before he could fall to the floor. Zelgadis laid Gourry on his bed and left the room. One he was outside, Zelgadis cast Ray Wing. Once he was about a mile form the town, Zel landed beside a stream. He looked around and saw the Nightroses (1) blooming, their scent tickling his nose
"Such a beautiful place, perhaps they will bury me here." Zelgadis hurriedly jotted down a letter and unfastened his cloak. Then Zel placed the letter on the cloak and took a deep breath. Zelgadis looked up at the twinkling stars overhead. So beautiful, yet so cold. Zel's face hardened and he held the Hikari no Ken before him. "Hikari O." Zelgadis whispered as silent sobs raked his body. "Lina." Zelgadis whispered a diamond tear ran down his cheek and splashed onto the patches of Nightroses below. It caught on a blood red petal like a raindrop twinkling in the moonlight. Zelgadis closed his eyes and plunged the Hikari no Ken, the one thing that could pierce his cursed stone skin, into his chest. Zelgadis gasped as a pain like he had never felt before flared through him. Blood spurted from his wound and stained the grass red as he life's blood ran from him. Zelgadis fell to his knees and then to his back as a puddle of blood soaked the ground. "Lina, forgive me." Zel whispered as he closed his eyes. Then a blood colored diamond leaked from beneath his lashes and oddly fell to rest next to it's fellow diamond. Zelgadis Greyweres died there in the clearing, crying tears of diamonds as alone as the stars he has admired in his last moments. A mile away, from the Inn, a piecing scream rent the silent air.
Lina was the one who discover Zel's body. Almost as if she was lead there, she found him cold, stone body next to the Nightroses. The grass around him was saturated with his blood, and as the sun rose, it's beams shone of the two diamonds, one ruby red, and the other, sapphire hues, the color of Zel's eyes. Lina shoved her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming her sorrow. But almost against her will, Lina's fingers sought out the two diamonds and she placed them into the pocket of her cloak. Lina looked at her lover's oddly peaceful face and she stonily walked over to his cloak, which was free of his blood and saw the letter with her name written upon it with his flowing handwriting. With trembling hands she opened Zelgadis' last letter and her tears fell onto the paper running the ink, so that she could barely make out the words.
Lina,
Forgive me, what I did was beyond forgiveness. And I am not asking for your forgiveness on that, but for leaving you alone. But please try and understand, I cannot forgive myself for what I did. Know that I loved you, and try not to hate me for what I have done. You where the brightest star in my life. You mean more to me then even my cure, which is why I am leaving your life before I hurt you again. If I may ask one last favor, I would like to be buried here in the beautiful place, let these Nightroses be my grave marker.
Love,
Zelgadis
"Oh Zel, why?" Lina whispered brokenly as she read over the short letter once again.
"Lina." Gourry gathered his best friend up in his arms and hugged her. Lina buried her head in his shoulder and cried.
"He...he wanted to be buried here Gourry."
"I'll see to it Lina." Amelia walked over to Zel's body and stared down at him.
"How, the Hikari no Ken was put out forever years ago... how was he able to call it again" Amelia murmured as she picked up the sword.
"What Amelia." Gourry asked as he held Lina.
"He was able to call for the light form the Hikari no Ken, that's how he did it. How?"
"He...he wanted to die, so he willed it." Lina fell to her knees and sobbed. Gourry picked her up and began to carry her back to the town.
"I will see that his body is buried." Gourry whispered as he cradled the weeping sorceress to his chest.
"Come on Amelia, we can't do anything here." Amelia stooped over and picked up Zel's cloak and ran after Gourry as silent tears ran down her cheeks. Amelia cover Lina up with Zelgadis' cloak and the tiny sorceress clutched the ivory fabric as if holding on for dear life. Amelia cast Ray Wing and tried not to not as a tear fell form Gourry's eyes, shed for a lost friend.
Lina stared down at the grave of Zelgadis. In the year since his death, she hadn't gone a single day without thinking about him. She smiled slightly when she noticed that the Nightroses had covered the earth, hidding the grave. But it would never been hidden to her. Lina absently touched the necklace she wore. After Zelgadis had been buried she had gone to the local jeweler and had him make the necklace for her. Set inside it where the two diamonds, one red, one blue.
"Goodbye Zel, I love you." Lina shifted the burden in her arms and pushed the blanket aside to reveal her small daughter. The little girl's indigo colored, downy hair shone in the sunlight and her sapphire eyes twinkled up at her mother. Lina smiled down at her daughter and she lightly brush the one lock of hair that covered her right eye. "I wish you could have met him, he was a great man." Lina whispered as she looked away. The baby blinked her sapphire colored eyes and suddenly, they flashed ruby red.
1 - Small low bushes of roses that only bloom during the night. I original creation of mine, but I think there is such a plant in real life. But do not hold me to it.